Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-02-02
MIS- HITS HUSBANDS
They Failed Entirely to Discour-
age Her.


during the spring term over the seventeen
bare footed children of district No. 10, East
Ccnterville johnson County, did not find
the social element OF the neighborhood
congcnial. There was no lack of society
and social gayeties. The schoolmaster had
attended a surprise party, warm-sugar
party, and a "sociable" during the first
week OF his residence in district No. 10; he
had been stared at by red-handed, hair
oiled, tongue-tied youths; danced several
Virginia reels to the tune Of Pop Goes the
Weasel, +" rendered on a shrieking fiddle or
hoarso mclodeon boon kissed by scores
Of buxom girls in innumerable osculatory
games; and had since refrained from East
Centerville festivities with sternness
which had been looked upon as ''stuck-up,"
and which may indeed have been due in
some degree to that complacent self-esti-
mate in which young schoolmasters ara
not usually deficient.
he was fond Of entertainment, however,
and being thus thrown back upon himself,
It's chances seemed small. The comfort
able old couple who boarded him were
meek, industrious, deserving and common
place, and no was not hopeful Of discover
ing any thing more exciting in district No.
10. He was reused to mild interest,
therefore, when he found the 'sittin'-
ROOM" one morning, in the possession OF
an odd and somewhat startling old woman.
She was white-washing the ceiling She
stood on top of "a step-ladder and covered
its cracked and yellowish surface with long
strokes of her stubby brush. Shc wore
bright, new calico dress with short skirt,
which exposed her heavy masculine boots.
Her hair, which was gray and scanty, was
drawn back over frequent patches OF bald
ness and fastened in a candid knot of the
size of a hickory nut. Her face was brown
and wrinkled, with bright eyes, and she
held pipe between her lips.
The schoolmaster inquired concerning
her as he sugared his lettuce at the break
fast table; sugar and vinegar were the APP
proved salad dressing at East Centerville.
That's Mis- Hit, !" his hostess rejoned.
'She kind Of jobs round-lays carpet and
wbitewashes and papers and helps house
cleanin' times She's master hand, Mis-
Hit ISL
"Miss Hitt-she is unmarried, them" said
the schoolmaster
LAW" the old lady responded, while a
faint blush stole into her faded cheek;
''she's BON married four times. HIT" she
band. but We didn' never git into the way
o. calm her Mis- Doty. II don't make no
odds as know of-Doty, hos dead"
A week later the schoolmaster, who had
conceived liking for the outdoor aspects
of district No. 10, wandering in the dusk of
which copious spring rains had developed
into a swamp, came suddenly upon a small
rcd wooden building set into n corner of
the pasture and backed by piece of woods
Its unstable appearance, produced by the
piles of stones upon which its four corners
rested and its several props, made it OBJ
vious that it had been moved hither from
its native spot, where it might have been q
corn or hen house. In chair in the open
doorway, leaning forward on her elbows
l. linz lei
Tho schoolmaster went nearer and raised
his hat. The old woman took her pipe from
her mouth and eyed him with a feeting
suspicion then she got up and showed her
chair back Hospitality. The schoolmaster
stepped inside and sat down on an anony-
nous object near the door. while his enter
tainer lighted her lamp. Its light showed
a cramped interior of one room.
The walls were covered with news
papers, tackled up; an unreasonable stove
retained it's place, for lack of other
refuge. There wero n few attempts at
adornment which tho hardened fingers and
beIsted tastes of the inventor had not
served to render successful. The school
masters seat proved to be n nail ksg,
whose hardness was not helped by its frill
one chair Of the room, looked at her caller
over her pipe with no visible curiosity.
saw We t'other day" she observed
'Teachin' here, amt .yei' And, when the
scboolmaster assentcd, rclapsed into silence
with nod
"You are pleasantly situated" tho
schoolmaster ventured, looking out some
what doubtfully over the pasture lot
II don't know as be-" said Mis- Hit
alphabetically. II git along"
holder attempt. II havo lately received
the news of the death of-of an arfnt,n he
remarked. at is exceedingly sad to lose
ones friends, is it noti But perhaps-very
I Pos iO!, have had no experience of
Mis- Hit removed her pipe, with face
wholly unsuspicious. Her eyes shone in
its darksned and withered surface with q
suddenly increased brightness.
"l've buried four husbands" abe said.
Her expression was mixture Of solemnity
and excusable pride.
"Ahl" the schoolmaster murmured.
1.-THE great consolation for death" he con-
timed, lis tho remembrance OF the felicit-
Gus hours passed with the deceased. Your
married life-lives-were happy, were
"Well, donn' know" said Mis- Hit.
She crossed her kneos and clasped her
knotty hands around them. ~ didn't
have such powerful good luck gittin' hus-
bands"
"Indeedn ssid the schoolmastor. zone
might Judge from a casual view that you
bad been highly successful"
Mis- Hits seriousness did not alter. Ap-
parcutly joke was not in the line OF her
comprehension.
Thar want none o. my men what ye
might call likely" she said, without dis
tnrbance from the recollection of her time
softened troubles. "They was pretty
Urinary set, j call 'em."
She pulled avoy in silent rumination.
Your frat huaband. for oxampleF the
schoolnaster suggested.
wal. be wa'n't much-Iko Hayward
want" the OLD woman responded. Her